Dr. Thomas Benda, jr
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Dubuque
35 years experience male
Locations
Dubuque ENT Head & Neck Surgery, PC
Dubuque
My office hours
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Show morePhone
Insurances accepted
Dean Health
United HealthCare Insurance Company
Wellmark Inc
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Allergy
Allergy and Immunology
Doctor Q&A
277 Answers
32 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Ear drops: The most important thing is to get the ear cleaned out well. Secondly, a good antibiotic ear drop makes the symptoms go away faster. When it's sever... Read More
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Can't see pic: Unlikely at your age. If concerned, go see an ent.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Hypopharynx: From top to bottom, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx. Larynx divided into supraglottic larynx, glottis, subglottis.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Yes: The two will not affect each other. The chief side effects to look for with sudafed are hyperness, irritability, heart palpitations, and dehydration.... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Yes: Depending on how much thyroid tissue is removed, patients may need thyroid hormone replacement after surgery. Sometimes only half of the gland is rem... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
20 minutes: The d is the decongestant, and you should notice a response within 20 minutes, along with a little stimulation. The expectorant thins your secretion... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Probably nothing: The antibiotic is generally given to help improve pain. In some cases all it does is make you more nauseated. It's there to make you feel better. I... Read More
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
See doctor: The two may not be related. I think nosebleeds this time of year are caused by irritation of the nose from allergy. Sinus infection could cause both... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Possible, not likely: It's hard to gag yourself so bad you throw up, just as it's hard to punch yourself so hard you hurt something. There are diseases where you could los... Read More
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 69-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Not connected, but : But sounds serious. I can't imagine what nodule of lump on the back of your neck could produce vertigo. I would definitely have it checked out by an... Read More
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Not likely: Tingling or itchy sensation in your throat this time of year is likely ragweed allergy. Chronic neck tension is more likely to cause neck, shoulder, ... Read More
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Not related: T i'm doubting these three symptoms are related. You could be dizzy in the morning from dehydration, or low blood sugar. Are you lightheaded or spinn... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Needs exam: I'm not sure what you are measuring from your description, the size of the lump or how far away it is from your jaw. If you have two solid, nonpainfu... Read More
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Possibly: Or you may be getting over a cold. As a cold improves the nasal secretions get thicker and a little yellow. If you are coughing up thick brown sputu... Read More
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Huh?: Having oral sex before unprotected vaginal sex will not reduce your chances of getting pregnant. This is not a form of birth control.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Broken: Worst case is that is is broken. It depends on how it was dislocated. Not infrequently bad temporomandibular joint arthritis could make your jaw loc... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Dryness: This time of year this is likely dryness. Another possibility is allergy. Try taking an antihistamine and using a saline nasal gel. If you are using... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Time for evaluation: If you haven't had a chest x ray, it would be a good start. You can have what is called increased vocal fold sensitivity after a cold, but that shoul... Read More
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Aphthous ulcers: These are likely aphthous ulcers. Vitamin B12 and folate (folic acid) deficiency, stress, menstrual period, NSAIDS, other drugs have been known to be ... Read More
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Nosebleed?: If actively bleeding see an ENT or emergency department. If not, use saline nasal spray or saline nasal gel spray such as ayr or neilmed until nose he... Read More
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Probably bruise: This is probably a bruise. If it is red and raised it could be infected. I would call the doctors office who performed the shot. Allergy to kenalog... Read More
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Yes, and NO: Yes you can use Astelin daily, and no it does not cause rebound congestion, or rhinitis medicamentosa. Unlike steroid nasal sprays, you don't have to... Read More
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
No worry: I wouldn't worry about short exposures to markers. Just don't actively put them in your nose and sniff them.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
A few things: Are you sure it's yeast? Not all white residue is yeast . Yeast would likely burn, and not be confined to the corners of your mouth. If it is, a ver... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Ear infection: It would not be unusual for an ear infection to occur as a complication of a cold. Sometimes sinus infection will cause ear pain as pus drips over th... Read More
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Otitis Media: If the doctor said the ear was bulging he/she diagnosed it as a middle ear infection. This is quite painful and would also cause your hearing to be d... Read More
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Don't overthink it: If you know the above you've had very good laryngeal exams. There is nothing seriously wrong with your epiglottis. If something worsens, go back to ... Read More
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Ignore: Tinnitus is caused by hearing loss. Do see an Ent. Do get a hearing test. Avoid total silence.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
How long ago?: There will be generalized swelling in the area for up to 6 weeks. It might just be that you can see around the tooth in a way you haven't been able t... Read More
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Talk to surgeon: General anesthesia should be safe and is not the same drugs used for local anesthesia. However, the surgeon will frequently use a local anesthetic in... Read More
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Stop using: If you have a hole in your ear drum this stuff will sting like crazy. Use your antibiotic, and if the ear has been draining an antibiotic ear drop li... Read More
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Many things: Anything that causes an allergic reaction, usually an ige mediated reaction. Spring pollen allergens are tree pollens and molds. Summer is mostly gr... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
No: Enlarged tonsils are removed if they are a chief part of the problem in sleep apnea in adults, or if there is concern of a cancer. They are also remo... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Oxymetazoline: Otc nose sprays containing oxymetazoline or neosynephrine (phenylephrine) are great at decongesting your nose in a hurry, without a lot of side effect... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What could cause my jaws to have white spots and tongue to have edgy spots and a feeling of burning?
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Thrush: I'm not sure what you mean by "jaws", but white spots in the mouth with burning sensation frequently means a yeast infection of mouth and or throat. ... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
No: We use it to thin secretions in the nose and throat, and make it easier to cough thick secretions up.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Up to 75 bucks: As it is generic many of my patients pay a 5 dollar copay. Out of pocket i'm pretty sure the most you would pay is 75 dollars for a bottle that would... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Surgery is an option: Surgery is an option for those who can't tolerate cpap. CPAP is the treatment of choice. Nasal surgery can sometimes lead to ability to tolerate cpa... Read More
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Up to you: Some of my patients have used a saline sinus rinse daily for years. Make sure your bottle or netti pot are clean, don't forget to use salt, and use i... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Sinus infection: It depends on how long ago you had an adenoidectomy. If it was a few weeks ago, it can still be from surgery. If it was years ago, it could be sinus... Read More
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Asthma: Coughing while laughing is a well known symptom of poorly controlled asthma. There are other possibilities. See an ENT allergist, general allergist ... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
External otitis: Many of us would term this chronic external otitis. It's basically a condition of the skin of your ear canal. It is frequently caused by cleaning th... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Yes: Sudafed is commonly used for swollen nasal tissue in pregnancy, or "rhinitis of pregnancy". Be careful with it if you have high blood pressure or anx... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
No,... and yes: Most thyroid nodules don't need to be removed. Nodules larger than 1cm need to be needle biopsied. If they are suspicious for cancer, the nodule, an... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Yes, : Yes, this can be repaired with a fairly simple procedure. It is considered cosmetic, so health insurance would not cover the surgery. The surgery is... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
See your doctor: Dizziness can be many things. An unequal pupil and vision changes should be checked right away, usually by an eye doctor or a neurologist. Starting ... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
That depends: Ear pain should be evaluated. An ear infection can lead to meningitis, hearing loss, chronic ear drum perforation and other problems. Some ear infec... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Blood pressure: Feelings of lightheadedness with change of position have to do with blood getting to your brain. High or low blood pressure, or irregular heart beat ... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Treat the irritation: Likely the dr was trying to say that you were heavily focusing on things that most people consider minor irritations. This is seen in depression. I ... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 35 years experience
Go ahead: Orange juice should be fine with mono. Sometimes acidic drink might irritate your throat when you're sick, especially if the illness makes your throa... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
539
Thank you notes
Aug 27, 2012
Wonderfully detailed answers!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Benda is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Benda is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I never knew that the whiterners in the toothpaste would cause my tongue to be white. For years I've my dentist, dental hygienist and pcp couldn't tel
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! I doubted because on dose specifications I saw much higher values for General Anesthesia, and 20mcg was for ICU sedation... so was confused
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thanks for the reply. I've seen an ENT and all he prescribed was amoxicillin and Zantac. Neither worked. Saw another doc and zpac didnt wrk
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Graduated 1987MD
Medical/Graduate school
The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, IA
Graduated 1987MD
Residency
University of Chicago Medical Center
Residency
University of Chicago
Awards
Resident Award, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy Resident Award 1993
Top Doctor, Second Place, Dubuque, IA - Winter
2013
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
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